The conversion of large urban high schools into small, focused learning centers is gaining currency as an education reform strategy. This publication provides guidelines, along with guiding questions, for those considering such a conversion. The first section explores the structural, organizational, and political challenges involved in converting…

This book contains essays by those who have been profoundly influenced by John Goodlad's research and scholarship on educational change and school improvement. The volume features 20 articles: "On Inquiry and Education," K. Sirotnik; "Invigorating Elementary Schooling: Savoring a Long-Term Partnership," R. Anderson;…

Recently, charter schools have gained popularity with parents, students, and others as alternatives to public schools, but what are charter schools and what effects are they having? This Spanish-language Digest defines charter schools and clarifies some of the administrative and legal details surrounding such schools. The Digest also lays out some…

Numerous attempts have been made to improve the effectiveness of decision-making in organizational settings. Some of the historical and contemporary organizational trends regarding these efforts, both in business and in school settings, are presented in this paper. The focus is on the related expectations and outcomes that are evident in diverse…

Recently, charter schools have gained popularity with parents, students, and others as alternatives to public schools, but what are charter schools and what effects are they having? This digest defines charter schools and clarifies some of the administrative and legal details surrounding such schools. The digest also lays out some of the potential…

The 2000-2001 Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) Profile outlines institutional characteristics and facts. It includes strategic plans, goals, history, enrollment rates, KCTCS districts and colleges by district, and information about the Board of Regents and Foundation. Profile highlights include: (1) fall 1999 credit…

This paper examines the current state of parental involvement in site-based management (SBM) councils. It defines SBM as a formal alteration of the governance structure and as a form of decentralization that identifies the school as the primary unit of improvement. To assess SBM councils, surveys were mailed to 600 principals representing urban,…

This paper offers reflections on the collaborative development of a school/university partnership so as to provide insights into the inherent challenges and successes of such work. It focuses on The Learning Connections Lab (LCL), which began in 1997. The LCL was a partnership between St. Cloud State University and two elementary school sites. To…

Senior Inspector for Primary Education in Manchester, England explodes some of the myths concerning "open education" in the English School System. (CS)

This study is concerned with the relationship between Halpin and Croft's organizational climates as classified by the Organizational Climate Description Questionnaire and Likert and Likert's organizational systems as classified by the teacher form of the Profile of a School Questionnaire. The positively significant relationship found between these…

It is evident that pupil dissatisfaction was the greatest in those schools where an administrative style approached the authoritarian model, i.e., the small schools. (Authors)

Describes Pope John Central High School in Elgin, Nebraska, one of the most innovative secondary schools in the state. (CB)

This study made an assessment of openness as viewed by administrators, teachers, and students. (Author)

Author describes a design now being tried in a few schools in the midwest", and urges the idea of the school as supportive environment" for learning. (Author/SP)